The Nicholls State University softball team dropped its first conference series of the season this past weekend against Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

The series was not without its share of exciting games. The Colonels, 17-11 overall and 5-4 in Southland Conference play, scored a total of 18 runs over the weekend, including a walk-off home run in their lone win.

Despite the high run total, the team was shutout for the first time all season in the series opener. Freshman centerfielder Peyton Gremillon was the only Colonel to collect multiple hits, going 2-3 in the game. In the second game, the Colonels found their offense and pounded 17 hits in route to a 12-11 win. After trailing 5-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning, the Colonels rallied for four runs cutting the deficit to one.

Both teams continued to score runs at a blistering clip until the Islanders took an 11-8 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Gremillon lead off the inning with a double. Sophmore Broke Morris followed with a base hit to right, scoring Gremillon and cutting the Islander lead to one.

“I felt we had momentum on our side,” Head Coach Angel Santiago said. “It was neat to see the first two hitters get on, and it was only a matter of time until our offense did something that big in an inning.”

Junior first baseman Alexis Huss then stepped up to the plate and homered to right, winning the game.

In the third game, the Colonels and Islanders traded runs through out the game and were tied 6-6 heading into the last inning. However, two walks and wild pitches led two Islander runs that pushed the lead to 8-6.

“It’s frustrating for us that we can’t come together defensively,” freshman catcher Moriah Strother said. “What it comes down to is mental toughness, and right now our team is facing major adversity with only two pitchers available.”

This weekend, the Colonels will travel to Conway, Arkansas for a three-game series with the University of Central Arkansas, who are undefeated in Southland Conference action. They will be playing on the Sugar Bears turf infield. The team has practiced in Guidry Stadium this week in preparation of the unique speed and hops that the surface creates.

“For some strange reason, we’re not getting the focus on the defensive end,” Santiago said. “The girls came to me ready to work this week.”

The lack of available pitchers has hamstringed the Colonels in key situations and puts more pressure on the other aspects of the game. The work has been split between 10 game winner Hannah Haydel and sophomore Taylor Hastings.

“It put so much more pressure on the defense to make their plays. There is no leeway,” Santiago said. “I had to pull Hannah earlier than I wanted to in the last game Saturday,” Santiago said. “Injuries are one of those things that happens in sports, but our defense has to be there to pick us up.”